Viola riviniana Rchb.
Common Dog-violet
Common dog-violet is Britain's most widespread and abundant violet, a tufted perennial with long-stalked, heart-shaped leaves and pretty blue-violet flowers around 15 to 25mm across. The flowers have a notched, paler spur and, true to the 'dog' name, are unscented, distinguishing them from the fragrant sweet violet.
About
Common dog-violet is Britain's most widespread and abundant violet, a tufted perennial with long-stalked, heart-shaped leaves and pretty blue-violet flowers around 15 to 25mm across. The flowers have a notched, paler spur and, true to the 'dog' name, are unscented, distinguishing them from the fragrant sweet violet. It is a genuine native wildflower found throughout the country.
It grows in a wide range of habitats including open woodland, woodland rides and edges, grassland, heaths and shady hedgebanks, tolerating most soils except the very wet or strongly acidic. Flowering mainly in spring, roughly March to May, it is an important early nectar source and, crucially, the main larval foodplant of several fritillary butterflies such as the pearl-bordered, small pearl-bordered and silver-washed fritillaries. This makes it a valuable, low-maintenance addition to woodland-edge planting, shady banks, hedgerow bases and conservation grassland aimed at supporting butterflies.
Also known as
Rivinus' violet · blunt-spurred violet · common dog violet · dog violet · european dog violet
Synonyms
Viola arenaria puberula · Viola broussonetiana · Viola canina macrantha · Viola canina pubescens · Viola canina riviniana · Viola caniniformis · Viola claudiana · Viola cordata · Viola guffroyi
Beta — under active development. This catalogue is still being built and accuracy-checked. The information here (including plant identifications, British native status, soil and sun/shade preferences) is provided in good faith for general guidance only and may contain errors or omissions. It must not be relied upon on its own — please confirm details with us before making planting, specification, foraging or purchasing decisions, and never eat or medicinally use any plant based on this catalogue alone, as some species are toxic. To the extent permitted by law, Phoenix Amenity Supplies accepts no liability for any loss arising from use of this information.